Open Chì mi a-rithist thu

[Rory Fergusson]

Rory’s hands lightly gripped the diploma, they were still shaking lightly, though he was more conscious of not crushing the paper the moment he got it. He had to find his brother. There wasn’t a lot of time left and he knew they would both become busy quickly as the year wrapped up. Leaving hogwarts was stepping into this great big unknown. Nothing was certain for him and he would just have to aim to just manage each day. He shoved the paper in the pocket of his jacket. He hadn’t worn the sporran where he might’ve otherwise put. Most of his things had been tidied away into two categories, things for Aonghas and things for him to take, the sporran was within the pile of things for his brother and he didn’t want to search for it. Hadn’t had the patience that morning for such a thing. Rory spotted Aonghas easily in the crowd of other people. He was pleased that his brother had worn his kilt too. The family tartan and everything. It was a little piece of home, of his family before he left it all behind. He approached his brother, a small smile on his face, ”Thanks fae comin’ Aonghas, ah know da wouldnae have wanted ye tae,” he thanked his brother. He rested a shaking hand on to the boy’s head briefly before he lifted it away. He would need to find the words to say goodbye, but he didn’t know how. The finality of the action sat heavily on his mind. ​

 

[Aonghas Fergusson]

Aonghas nervously waited for his brother to find him. He’d been able to leave the hall pretty quickly and find a spot where his brother could seek him out. They hadn’t talked about it but he knew what the graduation meant. He was toying with the idea of telling his father about him going to Rory’s graduation, he wanted to see what his father’s reaction might be to such a statement. Maybe he wanted to rock the boat a little, make it known how he felt about the treatment of his brother. He was loyal to his parents but he hated how everything with his brother had happened. How easily they were throwing him away as if he wasn’t their first son. Aonghas spotted Rory in the crowd of people and made to wave him over when the older boy spotted him. He noted the diploma in his brother’s pocket and met the older boy’s gaze. ”Course,” the boy felt warmed by the thanks, he knew he’d done the right thing by coming, their parents be damned. ”Ye got an address ah could send stuff tae?” the boy asked nervously, trying to keep his tone as neutral as possible. He wasn’t sure what Rory’s plans were and though he knew that he probably shouldn’t keep in too much contact with him, but Aonghas didn’t like the thought of just leaving his brother dry like his family all were. ​

 

[Rory Fergusson]

Rory shook his head at his brother, they hadn’t talked about Rory after school, half because Rory just didn’t want to worry his brother. He knew that Aonghas had mixed feelings about everything that had happened and the future of their family, but he felt that telling him he still had no real clue would do nothing to help, so he just lied, ”Ah’ll send ye a letter wae it,” he wouldn’t, he could probably figure that his brother knew he wouldn’t, but the gesture was there. He let silence wrap around them for a moment,, ”Ah spoke wae the counsellor here, go ae her, if there’s a problem,” Rory had thought about not mentioning anything about that to him, but it seemed worthwhile to mention it, since he wouldn’t be around to give his brother that advice later. ”Ah’m sorry aboot everythin’, ah know this isnae the start tae school that ye deserve. Can ye be sure tae no let Liusaidh know ah love her,” Rory was keeping his gaze on his brother, but his eyes seemed to be slowly building up excess water. ”Take care ae yerself Aonghas, alright? Dinnae forget that ah’m sorry fae what this has done tae ye, ah’ll always love you. Ye focus on ye, dinnae worry yerself aboot me.” Rory opened his arms a little to his brother and was surprised by the force of the hug it was met with. He wrapped his arms fiercely in return around his brother, leaning his head a little on top of his brothers, unable to stop the few stray tears. ​

 

[Aonghas Fergusson]

Aonghas had a feeling his brother was lying to him, he didn’t think that his brother would send anything. Aonghas knew that he’d be unlikely to send much either, he couldn’t associate with him much after they were no longer in school, far away from everything together. Aonghas was a little surprised when Rory said he’d been to the school counsellor. Honestly, Aonghas hadn’t thought his brother would ever do anything like that, but it appeared like he could surprise him. He wasn’t sure he’d ever go see the woman, but at least if things at home got ever rough he had someone he could go to about things. Aonghas nodded as his brother began speaking again. Little tears filled his eyes, he couldn’t hate his brother, he didn’t entirely understand but he couldn’t hate him for it. He didn’t blame him for how it had happened either. He nodded again, gaining a near frantic speed as he did so, he’d be sure their youngest sister would remember him. He’d be sure that she knew her oldest brother loved her. The boy met his brother’s gaze, tears streaming slowly down his own face, nodding again, even more frantically. He couldn’t help it, he loved Rory, despite all of the distance they’d had. He loved him. The boy noticed his brothers open arms and gladly took that opportunity, practically throwing himself into his brother and wrapping his arms fierecely around his brother. He gripped tightly and buried his head into his brother’s shoulder. ”Ah love you too,” he muttered, ”Be careful okay,” the boy continued muttering, ”When ah graduate ah’ll bring ye hame okay,” he switched to gaelic in the last sentence. Just holding his brother close for a moment longer before pulling out of the hug. ​

 

[Rory Fergusson]

Rory nodded to his brother, pulling away he rubbed his eyes, brushing away his tears, ”Aye okay, Aonghas,” the teen wasn’t sure if his brother would be able to, but he’d keep an eye out in six years time for a letter inviting him to his brothers graduation. It didn’t help him in the current week, it wouldn’t help him tomorrow or in the coming months and weeks as he figured out his life, but there was just that faint glimmer of hope that in the future he might see his brother, his family, his home again. He rest a hand upon his brother’s shoulder. ”Ye’ll be alright Aonghas. If ye ever decide tae dae the same, be smarter than me, get Liusaidh oot and then find me, alright?” Rory wouldn’t be able to help his siblings now, when he’s without anything and an uncertain future. He’d brushed all of his tears away, though his eyes were a little red rimmed, he needed to be braver than his brother. Put on a brave face. ”But honestly, if ye have problems talk tae the counsellor she’s pretty alright,”​